Pardes from Jerusalem

By Pardes Institute of Jewish StudiesReligion & Spirituality Education Judaism

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Typical duration
30 min
per episode

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Pardes from Jerusalem episodes

May 11 Bamidbar 5786: Jerusalem Together
What kind of Jerusalem are we hoping to build together?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Tovah Leah Nachmani reflect on Parshat Bamidbar and the meaning of Yom Yerushalayim. Framing the Jewish journey through the wilderness as an ongoing process of growth and becoming, they explore Jerusalem not only as a city, but as a vision of connection, responsibility, and shared purpose. The conversation asks how we can hold onto hope for Jerusalem’s future while creating space for difference and working toward a more connected society.
31 min
May 03 Behar–Bechukotai 5786: Limits and Responsibility
What kind of responsibility do we carry for the world we’re living in?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore Parshat Behar–Bechukotai and the connection between social responsibility and spiritual consequence. Through the laws of Shemitah and Yovel, they examine how the Torah builds a society rooted in limits, care, and mutual responsibility. Against that backdrop, the blessings and curses of Bechukotai raise a deeper question: how should we understand the relationship between our actions and the realities we face? The conversation challenges us to reflect not only on belief, but on behavior—and what it means to build a just and ethical community.
36 min
April 26 Emor 5786: Meeting in Time
What if the holidays are less about remembering—and more about connecting?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Rafael Polisuk explore Parshat Emor and the meaning of sacred time. Focusing on the idea of moed, they suggest that holidays are not only about remembering the past, but about creating moments of connection. The conversation invites us to see these days as opportunities to come together and encounter something deeper.
35 min
April 20 Kedoshim 5786: Learning to Love
What does it take to truly love your neighbor as yourself?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy explore Parshat Kedoshim and its central call: “You shall be holy.” Moving from foundational commandments to the demand to love one’s neighbor, they examine how holiness is shaped not only by laws, but by character. Through rabbinic interpretation, they show how seemingly simple mitzvot expand into a deeper ethic—challenging us to move beyond competition, judgment, and instinct toward empathy, responsibility, and generosity. The conversation asks how we train ourselves, step by step, to become people capable of genuine love.
35 min
April 12 Tazria–Metzora 5786: Embodied Holiness
Can distance be a necessary part of spiritual life?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash explore Parshat Tazria–Metzora and the Torah’s complex treatment of the human body. Through discussions of ritual impurity, illness, and healing, they challenge the assumption that spirituality requires distancing from the physical. Instead, they present a vision in which the body is central to religious life—even as it creates moments of distance that require care, reintegration, and compassion. The conversation invites us to consider how communities respond to vulnerability, and what it means to help others return from isolation back into belonging.
39 min
March 29 Shemini 5786: Discipline and Holiness
What if holiness begins not in peak moments—but in everyday acts of restraint?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Michael Hattin explore Parshat Shemini, moving from the dramatic highs and tragic lows of the Mishkan’s inauguration to the everyday discipline of kashrut. They examine why the Torah offers detailed dietary laws without a clear explanation, and how classical commentators understand their purpose—from physical health to spiritual refinement. The conversation ultimately reframes kashrut as a practice of restraint, shaping moral awareness and helping us live with intention in even the most ordinary acts.
39 min
March 22 Pesach 5786: Rethinking the Seder
What would change if we designed the Seder to be experienced—not just completed?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore how the structure of the Seder shapes our experience of the Exodus story. Through creative reinterpretation and educational insight, they ask whether the traditional order fully captures the journey from slavery to freedom—and how small shifts in structure, storytelling, and ritual can make the Seder more meaningful and experiential. The conversation reflects on the balance between tradition and innovation, and what it takes to create a Seder that truly engages, inspires, and transforms.
37 min
March 15 Vayikra 5786: The Call Within
What might it mean if the Torah’s opening “call” is meant for each of us?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Yiscah Smith open the Book of Vayikra by exploring the meaning of God’s “calling” to Moses. Rather than seeing korbanot merely as ancient sacrifices, they reflect on them as a path toward closeness with God. The conversation explores the idea that each person may hear a personal spiritual calling—an inner voice guiding them toward deeper purpose, service, and connection with the Divine.
37 min
March 08 Vayakhel-Pehudei 5786: Sacred Reflection
Can self-reflection become a path to holiness?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash explore Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei through a striking detail of the Mishkan: the women’s mirrors used to create the basin for the priests. Drawing on Midrash and interpretation, they reflect on how mirrors symbolize self-awareness and identity—reminding us that serving God begins with knowing who we are. The conversation asks how self-reflection, relationships, and moral intention can transform ordinary human awareness into sacred service.
34 min
March 05 Purim 5786: Wealth and Power
What does Jewish tradition teach about the right way to use wealth and power?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Shalhevet Cahana explore Parshat Ki Tisa and the story of Purim through the lens of wealth and power. From the mitzvah of the machatzit hashekel to the lavish excess of Achashverosh’s court, they examine how money in Megillat Esther becomes a moral test—used by some to dominate and by others to build community and responsibility. The conversation asks what Jewish tradition teaches about the ethical use of wealth and influence.
42 min

About Pardes from Jerusalem

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Pardes from Jerusalem features a weekly discussion using Torah, Talmud and other Jewish texts to explain themes from the weekly Torah portion. The Pardes faculty is featured each week. For more…